The Chop House @ Vivocity

During my first visit to Jamie’s Italian when they first opened, there was some ongoing construction a few shops down which used to be where Carnivore occupied. The name of the new restaurant definitely elicited the ghost of its past occupant, as well as cooking competition Chopped on Food Network! I couldn’t decide what cuisine The Chop House serves as there was definitely Mexican influence in the dishes with the appearance of salsa sauces and quesadillas yet all the meats reminded me of the American diet. Opened by the great guys behind Wooloomooloo, The Chop House’s confused identity was nonetheless great!
Great place for the (wo)men and their booze with attractive Happy Hour promotion from 4-9pm!
Chic, modern decor that makes you feel at ease immediately. Though I don’t have a picture of their steak knives, let me assure you that they are huge – just imagine yourself as a butcher when you chop your meat.Crispy Calamari served w Curry Coleslaw ($12) – Crispy and chunky, with a thick layer of batter, the squid was fresh and succulent, which makes for a good starter. However, the curry coleslaw was disappointing as there was a weird, bitter taste to the cabbage. You know, sometimes innovative ideas don’t work for a reason. I’ll skip the coleslaw the next time I crave for my calamaris.Mussels Mariniere cooked w White Wine, Garlic, Shallots & Parsley ($18) – Mussels cooked in wine is one dish that I’ll never miss out on! The seasonings were adequate, which had made the broth very tasty. I liked how chopped onions were added on the pile of shellfish and I could easily have them with my mussels.Quesadilla (Choice of Chicken or Beef) served w Guacamole, Sour Cream & Salsa ($15) – This was the last of the three starters in the menu. This was my main course as I reckoned that the carbs would fill me up and these quesadillas sure did! I may not have eaten enough of them to judge, but they really are delicious. Served piping hot, the cheese was melted to a gooey state, fused with my choice of minced beef and fresh tomatoes. The tortilla was toasted just right and not entirely crispy (I hate it when they become biscuits). Accompanying this wonderful creation are the salsa sauces, which had added that bit of freshness to the quesadillas!New Zealand Grass-fed Beef Tenderloin served w Red Wine Sauce ($27) – Rarely do steaks go wrong, hence the defining factor are the sauces on the side. The server brought out 3 jars of condiments to go with the steak, including Onion Jam, Chilli Mustard and Beetroot Jam. My favourite out of the lot was the onion jam, which had flavours of a bowl of authentic French Onion Soup. More thoughts could have been put into the salad though.Watermelon Mojito [Barcadi, Muddled Watermelon, Fresh Tahitian Lime, Mint, Cane Sugar & Sugarcane Stick] ($14) – A drink that would reinvigorate your senses after a long day at work! I loved how the watermelon was crushed and ‘muddled’ with some mint and lime slices. The cocktail was quite light in my opinion, which had really brought out the taste of the fruit.

If you’re getting tired of the options at Vivocity, The Chop House will be a good change I promise. The ambience and hearty food will be great for group outings, families and the couples! Don’t forget to try their Quesadilla!